Male hyena dies in Assam zoo

A male hyena, which was recently translocated from Jharkhand to Assam State Zoo, died here following brief illness caused by stress and infection, an official said Friday.

The hyena, which arrived on November 26 from Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ranchi, slipped into coma on Tuesday and died on Thursday, Divisional Forest Officer of Assam State Zoo, Tejas Marisamy said.

"The hyena was visibly under stress when it had arrived and may have contracted infections at the zoo where it was quarantined," he said.

Any new animal brought to the zoo here is kept in isolation for 28 days and released into the enclosure only if they remain healthy.

A pair of hyenas and two ostriches were brought here from Ranchi in exchange of four leopards.

The female hyena and the ostriches are adjusting well in the new surroundings, the official added.